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Related papers: The direction of time: from the global arrow to th…

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Based on the hypothesis that the (non-reversible) arrow of time is intrinsic in any system, no matter how small, the consequences are discussed. Within the framework of local quantum physics it is shown how such a semi-group action of time…

Mathematical Physics · Physics 2023-05-22 Detlev Buchholz , Klaus Fredenhagen

We humans seem to have an innate understanding of the asymmetric progression of time, which we use to efficiently and safely perceive and manipulate our environment. Drawing inspiration from that, we address the problem of learning an arrow…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2019-07-03 Nasim Rahaman , Steffen Wolf , Anirudh Goyal , Roman Remme , Yoshua Bengio

Conceptual problems regarding the arrow of time in classical physics, quantum physics, cosmology, and quantum gravity are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the dynamical role of the quantum indeterminism, and to various concepts of…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2012-07-30 H. D. Zeh

Statistical physics cannot explain why a thermodynamic arrow of time exists, unless one postulates very special and unnatural initial conditions. Yet, we argue that statistical physics can explain why the thermodynamic arrow of time is…

General Physics · Physics 2012-10-10 Oleg Kupervasser , Hrvoje Nikolić , Vinko Zlatić

An unresolved problem in physics is how the thermodynamic arrow of time arises from an underlying time reversible dynamics. We contribute to this issue by developing a measure of time-symmetry breaking, and by using the work fluctuation…

Statistical Mechanics · Physics 2008-11-26 Edward H. Feng , Gavin E. Crooks

We investigate three aspects of the supposed problem of time: The disagreement between the treatments of time in general relativity and quantum theory, the problem of recovering time from within an isolated Universe and the prevalence of a…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2018-11-27 K. L. H. Bryan , A. J. M. Medved

The only widely accepted explanation for the various arrows of time that everywhere and at all epochs point in the same direction is the `past hypothesis': the Universe had a very special low-entropy initial state. We present the first…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2014-12-11 Julian Barbour , Tim Koslowski , Flavio Mercati

Scientific discussions of the arrow of time often get quite confusing due to highly complex systems they deal with. Popular literature then often coveys messages that tend to get lost in translation. The purpose of this note is to demystify…

Popular Physics · Physics 2024-08-29 Zura Kakushadze

Fundamental interactions are either fully or nearly symmetric under time reversal. But macroscopic phenomena have a definite arrow of time. Though there is no convergence on the origin of time's preferential direction, many researchers…

Fluid Dynamics · Physics 2019-11-25 Mahendra K. Verma

Global time is a gauge or relational choice of time variable in canonical gravity. Local time is the time used in a flat patch of spacetime. We compare the dynamics of a scalar field with respect to choices of global time and Minkowski…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2024-07-12 Syed Moeez Hassan , Viqar Husain , Babar Qureshi

The importance of the global nature of the arrow of time is shown. Classical Reichenbach diagram and quantum Bohm-Reichenbach diagram, for the universe are introduced. They are used to show the increase of entropy in closed systems, the…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Mario A. Castagnino

This paper is devoted to discussing the topological structure of the arrow of time. In the literature, it is often accepted that its algebraic and topological structures are that of a one-dimensional Euclidean space $\mathbb{E}^1$, although…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2022-09-23 B. F. Rizzuti , L. M. Gaio , Lucas T. Cardoso

A global definition of time-asymmetry is presented. Schulman's two arrows of time model is criticized.

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2007-05-23 Mario Castagnino , Luis Lara , Olimpia Lombardi

The arrow of time refers to the curious asymmetry that distinguishes the future from the past. Reversing the Arrow of Time argues that there is an intimate link between the symmetries of 'time itself' and time reversal symmetry in physical…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2022-12-08 Bryan W Roberts

In any physical theory that admits true indeterminism, the thermodynamic arrow of time can arise regardless of the system's initial conditions. Hence on such theories time's arrow emerges out of the basic physical interactions. The example…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Shahar Dolev , Avshalom C. Elitzur , Meir Hemmo

In the understanding of the fundamental interactions, the origin of an arrow of time is viewed as problematic. However, quantum field theory has an arrow of causality, which tells us which time direction is the past lightcone and which is…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2020-10-15 John F. Donoghue , Gabriel Menezes

Existence of arrow of time in our world may be easy explained if time has multifractal nature. The interpretation of nature of time arrow is made on the base of multifractal theory of time and space presented at works…

General Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 L. Ya. Kobelev

Living systems are fundamentally irreversible, breaking detailed balance and establishing an arrow of time. But how does the evident arrow of time for a whole system arise from the interactions among its multiple elements? We show that the…

Statistical Mechanics · Physics 2022-09-21 Christopher W. Lynn , Caroline M. Holmes , William Bialek , David J. Schwab

This thesis addresses two major problems in the philosophy of physics. The first is how to identify the minimal physical content of a theory; that is, what features of a theory are truly needed to make predictions, and what can be removed…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2025-09-19 Sean Gryb

This paper is a continuation of the papers [gr-qc/9409010, gr-qc/9505034, gr-qc/9603022, gr-qc/9609035] and is devoted to the riddle of the origin of the arrow of time. The problem of time orientation reduces to that of the difference…

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology · Physics 2007-05-23 Vladimir S. Mashkevich